Most of your e-book is contrasting the lonliness of american society compared to Europe.

But it seems that a great deal of the fakeness, pretention and artificiality here comes from a consumerist/ consumption society. When I was in Germany, I told one sales clerk that you don't have as many things to buy as we do in the US. She said yes and "we" don't need it. Wow..talk about a rejection of materialism. So what about the Philipines on that score, Winston?

The other thing is that in Europe the education system is much better. The right side of the bell curve gets a much better education. In germany, they don't teach to the left half of the bell curve, so intelligent people get a better education. This makes that crowd more developed and interesting and less shallow. They are easier to connect with. So what about the Philipines on that score , Winston?

Well think of the Philippines as a poor man's version of America and that pretty much answers your questions regarding consumerism and education. They try to emulate western society (especially America) but it's a less then awe inspiring version of it.

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and stoic philosopher, 121-180 A.D.

"It takes far less effort to find and move to the society that has what you want than it does to try to reconstruct an existing society to match your standards." - Harry Browne, How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World

gmm567 wrote:Most of your e-book is contrasting the lonliness of american society compared to Europe.

But it seems that a great deal of the fakeness, pretention and artificiality here comes from a consumerist/ consumption society. When I was in Germany, I told one sales clerk that you don't have as many things to buy as we do in the US. She said yes and "we" don't need it. Wow..talk about a rejection of materialism. So what about the Philipines on that score, Winston?

The other thing is that in Europe the education system is much better. The right side of the bell curve gets a much better education. In germany, they don't teach to the left half of the bell curve, so intelligent people get a better education. This makes that crowd more developed and interesting and less shallow. They are easier to connect with. So what about the Philipines on that score , Winston?

W: Probably the US has more variety in consumer goods. But every country has unique goods and specialty items. Just different types. You can get practically everything you need in the Philippines. With some things, like good food, you have to search around more for. My friend who was on an island in Visayas though, said the food there is much better and there's lots of fresh seafood everywhere. He said the food down south was much better than in Angeles City or Manila.

I don't know much about the education system in the Philippines. But I heard it's not very good, and plus you have to pay for school. It's not free. That sucks. I wonder where all the tax dollars and visa fees from foreigners goes to in the Philippines.

"It takes far less effort to find and move to the society that has what you want than it does to try to reconstruct an existing society to match your standards." - Harry Browne, How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World